With Mumbai’s air quality deteriorating ahead of winter, the state minister has urged the civic body to adopt a series of measures targeting dust, vehicle emissions and other sources of pollution.
Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar has proposed suspending all construction and demolition activities within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits for one day every week to tackle rising air pollution.
In a letter to BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide on Monday, October 26, Shelar called for immediate action as air quality concerns grow ahead of the winter season. He noted that citizens had raised concerns about pollution and that the Bombay High Court had also expressed concern over the deteriorating air quality.
Mumbai-Specific Pollution Response Plan Proposed
Shelar called for a Mumbai-specific Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to ensure that predefined measures are implemented promptly as air quality worsens.
He also proposed washing roads in pollution-prone areas and along major traffic corridors with treated wastewater, increasing mechanised road cleaning at night, repairing potholes promptly and restoring roads soon after excavation work.
The minister suggested deploying anti-smog guns and mist sprayers at pollution hotspots and major traffic junctions to control dust and airborne pollutants.
Action Against Waste Burning and Polluting Vehicles
To improve monitoring and enforcement, Shelar proposed setting up a dedicated helpline and social media account where residents could report waste burning, fires at dumping grounds and illegal disposal of construction debris. He called for prompt action on complaints, penalties for offenders and public disclosure of weekly action-taken reports.
He also urged the BMC to coordinate with the Mumbai Traffic Police and the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to take action against vehicles emitting excessive smoke. Increased checks of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and restrictions on heavy vehicles without valid certificates entering the BMC area were among his suggestions.
Monitoring Construction Sites and Cleaner Fuels
Shelar called for the urgent installation of pending sensor-based air quality monitoring systems at construction sites. He also urged the conversion of the remaining 87 bakeries using wood or coal to cleaner fuels.
Citing industrial pollution across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), he noted that industries consume approximately two million tonnes of coal annually for energy and fuel. He suggested low-interest loans, tax concessions and green energy funding to encourage industries to switch to cleaner fuels.
The minister also called for incentives to accelerate the electrification of public and private transport, with participation from automobile manufacturers and private companies.
Ward-Level Meetings to Identify Pollution Sources
Shelar proposed meetings across all 26 BMC administrative wards, involving citizen groups, elected representatives and government departments, to identify local pollution sources and develop suitable solutions.
He also suggested separate discussions with major industrial companies to seek technical assistance and financial support for pollution-control initiatives.
While acknowledging the measures already undertaken by the BMC, including inspections at construction sites and monitoring through the Central Air Quality Dashboard, Shelar said more comprehensive action was needed. He stressed that pollution-control efforts should extend across the MMR through coordination among the relevant civic bodies and government departments.
Source: Hindustan Times
